At least five NMPs not seeking second term

SINGAPORE — As the Office of the Clerk of Parliament announced yesterday that applications for the position of Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) are now open, Republic Polytechnic lecturer Faizah Jamal told TODAY she will not be seeking a second term, joining four of her compatriots. Meanwhile, two other NMPs, Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan and Channel NewsAsia Associate Editor Nicholas Fang, are mulling over whether to continue.

Last month, unionist Mary Liew, DBS banker Tan Su Shan, outgoing National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre Chief Executive Officer Laurence Lien and actress Janice Koh said they will not be applying for a second term, which will start in August after Parliament prorogued yesterday.

When contacted, Ms Faizah confirmed via email she will not be applying for a second term and added she would “prefer (and) highly encourage other environment activists to seriously consider stepping forward for nomination and contribute their perspectives”. Associate Professor Tan said he will focus on the “very active legislative agenda” in the remaining four months — citing the possibility of the Committee of Inquiry on the Little India riot report being debated — before deciding whether to seek reappointment. Similarly, Mr Fang said he will use the next few months to consider if he will apply for a second term, adding that the remaining months are a good time for the NMPs to review what they have done and the effect they have had.

As for the remaining two NMPs, Pacific Lines Managing Director Teo Siong Seng is currently in his second term and would not be eligible to run for a new term, while Jay Gee Melwani Group Managing Director R Dhinakaran could not be reached for comment yesterday.

NMPs are appointed by the President for a term of two and a half years, on the recommendation of a Special Select Committee of Parliament chaired by the Speaker of Parliament.

The general public has until May 20 to nominate persons who have rendered distinguished public service, brought honour to the Republic or who have distinguished themselves in nine fields to be considered for appointment as NMPs. These are the fields of arts and letters, sports, culture, the sciences, business, industry, the professions, social or community service, or the labour movement.